Architectural design is a collaboration between alt Architects and Architectural office Karsikas Ltd. Martti Karsikas was the principal designer and coordinator of the project and alt Architects was the office responsible for building's architectural design.
New Health clinic in Ruukki, Finalnd is a sympathetic, small-scale public building. Building is located adjacent to Mäkelänrinne assisted living and care center for seniors. The new health clinic is mostly surrounded by small batches of pine forest, but creates a small square in front of it's entrance with it's shape. Functional scheme of the project is based around a simple idea of puffing out the center of a rational L-form, and the resulting crescent form makes it possible to group dental care, health care, and child health care as distinct - but connected - units around the central lobby at the core of the building. Opening up the shape of the corridors towards the central core lessens negative institutional connotations usually linked to dentist's and doctor's offices and eases the orientation by opening up views from the lobby towards the appointment-rooms. At the same time circulation-space will be more generous where most people will visit and beds and exam-tables are being moved. Entances and reception desks are situated in recognizable wooden ”casings”. Reception office can be separated from the lobby with privacy enhancing glass partition.
From the main entrance side the outside of the building appears invigorating and attractive. Ample eaves protect the cladding from weather and connect the embracing, free-form wall to the older buildings with it's stern, but polite profile. Other facades are stylishly nonchalant and functional with ribbon windows providing therapeutic forest-scapes to the interior, alongside natural light. Building's structure is mainly wooden, and it is clad in greying wood siding and anodized aluminium. Ferrous sulfate was applied to the exterior cladding to speed up the greying process and to provide a natural resistance against molds.
In the interiors, Finnish birch-veneer and white lattice-themed walls create an emphatic and bright spatial experience, with posture from aluminium details that are familiar from the exterior detailing. A subtle form of ornament is present in cross-symbols that adorn the floors and reception desks. This unrefined and warm palette of materials is natural to it's environment, selected with confidence that the exterior presence creates an identifiable image of a communal building.
